Jarrod Saltalamacchia seeing a sports psychologist
by Adam J. Morris on May 19, 2010 11:08 AM CDT
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Richard Durrett has a story up on the Jarrod Saltalamacchia yips saga, including the news that Salty is seeing renowned sports psychologist Harvey Dorfman.
Not surprising, and it sounds like we're going to have to be patient and let this play out.
In the meantime, the longer this goes, the more concerned I am about whether, if he does get this straightened out, if the timing will be right for him to return.
Let's say the Rangers are two games up in the A.L. West in mid-July, and Salty's been throwing well for four to six weeks...do you really want to take him and thrust him into the middle of a pennant race at that point, and hope that the pressure doesn't cause a recurrence of the problem?
I don't know. I don't have an answer.
But if I'm the Rangers, I'm looking high and low for a possible starting catcher somewhere, because there doesn't appear to be anyone in the organization right now who you want as the regular catcher on a 2010 playoff contender.
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Maybe I'm too immersed in the cognitive neuroscience world
but it seems like this is something that should have been done as soon as the yips appeared.
Go Rice Owls!
Can you really diagnose the yips as yips right away?
Heavy is the head that eats the crayons...
LSB-Come for the baseball, stay for the Dirkatron raping!
it seems far sillier to assume that some mechanical issue is at fault
when an 8 year old can throw the ball reliably 60 feet without bouncing it or throwing it to centerfield
Go Rice Owls!
I don't think it's ridiculous to assume
it might be related to pain from all the shoulder stuff, or post-TOS issues… scar tissue, etc.
had a throwing error to a base last night
for what it’s worth.
"Biggest mistake in DFW history?" - Bigger mistake in LSB history.
his throws to bases have never been "good"
they just aren’t any worse right now
by blueballlefty on May 19, 2010 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions
that's what i was thinking also
Heavy is the head that eats the crayons...
LSB-Come for the baseball, stay for the Dirkatron raping!
I will say I do believe that he has the yips...
I’m only arguing that the team was probably right to not jump to that conclusion right away.
Oh I don't think there's any doubt he has the yips.
I just don’t think it was something could be diagnosed right away given the circumstances you discussed.
Heavy is the head that eats the crayons...
LSB-Come for the baseball, stay for the Dirkatron raping!
Ehh...maybe scar tissue.
But a guy coming off of TOS is going to have a lot of post-op evaluations and physical therapy sessions, especially a professional baseball player with that many trainers and doctors around. I’m sure he’s being followed relatively closely in both his mechanics and pain levels.
I’m curious if they maybe approached him about it as future possibility and then gave him time to see if he could work it out himself…
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on May 19, 2010 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions
I think it's ridiculous to assume
that Salty just talked to this guy yesterday, or that they’ve only now begun to help him deal with it.
Ceterum censeo, Ron Washington esse delendam
well
Salty’s quotes sound like someone who has been talking through it, so you’re probably right.
I guess I just get frustrated when people try to make excuses for psychological issues. I’m sure there is still a stigma in baseball for acknowledging something like this needs mental, and not physical, therapy, which is probably why they didn’t go public with this until it was entirely obvious that it wasn’t only mechanical. But there shouldn’t be a stigma, and I’ve been getting annoyed with all the “it’s mechanical” excuses being tossed our way
Go Rice Owls!
Yeah, I found it odd and kind of pointless
when they were trying to keep it quiet. Everyone meanwhile is on their phone emailing detailed reports to fan blogs and the media can see it happening. But I can respect, I guess, the impulse to try and let him deal with it without a lot of attention.
I am already tired of nightly updates “Salty bounced a throw in the 4th!”. Hopefully everyone gets over that soon.
Ceterum censeo, Ron Washington esse delendam
Easier to do on a golfer than a catcher....
….who had surgery on said throwing arm.
"Biggest mistake in DFW history?" - Bigger mistake in LSB history.
what do you do?
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
by Cecilio's Guante on May 19, 2010 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions
nevermind, I don't care....:(
If you do biofeedback and shit let me know cuz I wanna interview you for a paper…come on dude, help me out, don’t be shy….
pweeeease?!?!?!??
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
by Cecilio's Guante on May 19, 2010 6:10 PM CDT up reply actions
Harvey Dorfman
Sounds like a Simpsons character.
"I think it's funny because everybody wants Ozzie Smith range," Young said. "I want people to show me a guy that has turbo range like that."
Wasn't that hte name of a
Tim Conway character that did sports satires?
Thank you Houston for drafting Jason Castro.
I hear that name and the only thing that comes to my mind is...
"Biggest mistake in DFW history?" - Bigger mistake in LSB history.
what's that other actor's name
that played the axe murderer in Last Action Hero?
I loved that guy…and that movie…and AC/DC’s song “Big Gun” from that movie
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on May 19, 2010 2:36 PM CDT up reply actions
You're getting sleeeeeeepy....
"Drinks are on me if Lewis posts >168IP and an era lower than 3.86." by RangerMad on Jan 20, 2010 12:36 PM PST
Don't do hate rapes on me by telling what I want, AJM.
there doesn’t appear to be anyone in the organization right now who you want as the regular catcher on a 2010 playoff contender.
I get that you hate the butt shit out of me, but I want Max Ramirez as our catcher.
Yes, I do.
Stop doing fucking hate rapes on me by telling me that I don’t.
Sure, there are dudes I’d much rather have behind the plate this year, but none of those guys are realistic trade penises for us this year, so be quiet or murder me or do whatever, but don’t tell me I don’t want Max as our starting catcher, cause I do.
The 40 trumps all!
Mention my name at checkout to get 20% off at www.InflatableSexClowns.com!!!
by thedirkatron on May 19, 2010 11:18 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
I can't, I'm mesmerized by it. The fuck could it possibly mean? Is it a relic from a bygone era? Where magic and mystery ruled, and strippers were all enthusiastic about their jobs?
Cause that seems like a pretty sweet era.
Wish it wasn’t so bygone and shit…
:( :( :(
The 40 trumps all!
Mention my name at checkout to get 20% off at www.InflatableSexClowns.com!!!
by thedirkatron on May 19, 2010 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions 4 recs
Concur
Max is my choice, too, even over trading for some douchebag out there named AJ or whatever; however, if we could land Russ Martin for cheap and got Milano as part of the packaged deal, I’m in.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on May 19, 2010 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions
Carlton Maxwell
…to the rescue!
"Just take the ball and throw it where you want to. Throw strikes. Home plate don't move." - Satchel Paige
by Suicide Prince on May 19, 2010 11:20 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
I couldn't see putting him back in the majors
in any capacity but backup.
"No, I'm not a pessimist. At some point the world shits on everybody. Pretending it ain't shit makes you an idiot, not an optimist."-https://twitter.com/shitmydadsays
IMO
That was the case before the yips thing came about. He’s just not very good.
Hey Tom - It's over now, so do you know how - to pick up the pieces and go home?
think we can still get Bard and Masterson for him?
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on May 19, 2010 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions
Fuck that....
just get the kid some Playboy articles.
I’d rather have him two-hopping it back to the mound than put up with Trainor’s epic hackness.
Son, if you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They're about to announce the lottery numbers. - Homer Simpson
by SarasotaRanger on May 19, 2010 11:22 AM CDT reply actions
no.
"Drinks are on me if Lewis posts >168IP and an era lower than 3.86." by RangerMad on Jan 20, 2010 12:36 PM PST
Yes.
Son, if you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They're about to announce the lottery numbers. - Homer Simpson
by SarasotaRanger on May 19, 2010 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm much more worried about 1B and CF.
Very few teams get much production on offense out of the catcher position anyway.
Pro baseball has always been a dream, so this is pretty freakin’ cool out here. -- Tim Steggall, undrafted Rangers minor leaguer.
Rays wouldn't
"The 2010 Rangers...winning despite Ron Washington"
In the interest of quicker games Ron should just tell the ump he's pulling the Feliz card and the ump should rule the inning over.--Sherman McCoy on Sept. 4, 2009
In his defense, you are a retarded cuntbag by LiamP on Mar 4, 2010
yep
what do you think it would take? also, when is he f.a. eligible? He played in 45 games in 04 and 50 in 06, so I don’t quite know how to compute his service time.
What if that 3rd arm was beavan?
Jack Daddy
Crawford would be more likely
if the rays weren’t in contention this year
by TheHuntforRedOctober on May 19, 2010 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions
how so?
I mean, other than the obvious “he’s not as good as Upton” – do we really not want CC?
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on May 19, 2010 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions
at this point
why would the Rays want to trade any of their marquee players when they are rolling the way they are?
by TheHuntforRedOctober on May 19, 2010 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions
evidently
they are willing to listen on BJ. he isn’t hitting for them anyway and, while i’m not sure what they have in the system by way of CF, they do have a loaded system. More importantly, the only way they survive is to move players before its too late (ala the As).
Jack Daddy
I agree
they certainly won’t be able to resign a lot of their guys when they hit free agency. Upton was hitting earlier in the season, I guess I didn’t know he was struggling now.
by TheHuntforRedOctober on May 19, 2010 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions
Hm.
I know they have that hotshot prospect Desmond Jennings. Would they really consider going to a rookie when they probably feel like they can contend? I don’t know. Not saying it’s not possible, I just don’t know if it would happen or if with that line we would want it to happen.
by TheHuntforRedOctober on May 19, 2010 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions
if you offer them
borbon, they have that option too.
this is probable remote to impossible. but people keep saying we are going to make a deadline deal. unless its oswalt, I don’t think its a SP. the catching mkt is garbage unless you overpay for B. Molina (and are the giants going to posey in a pennant race)? that leaves CF. Who is out there? BJ fits the profile as a looming f.a. that has (I believe) 1 more year arb year. he’s still young and could probably use a change of scenery.
all of that being said, I have serious doubts how that clown fits in this clubhouse.
Jack Daddy
well
evidently he’s not a f.a. until after 2012. i have still heard that the Jays would listen to offers and are willing to move him.
personally, I would rather load up for an offer for sizemore
Jack Daddy
I like the name
But this is some scary shit right here.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
And the OBP
And he’s got a 295 BABIP, so he’s not terribly far off from being what he is (although, 24% LD rate, so he might still have some friendly regression due his way).
His L/R splits are ugly, too.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
Starting to get worried?
He hasn’t put together a full season yet
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on May 19, 2010 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions
huh?
I don’t see a full season since 2005
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/S/jarrod-saltalamacchia.shtml
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on May 19, 2010 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions
F me
Read that as Salty
My bad
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on May 19, 2010 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions
I'll give him 2007 since that was when the trade happened
But since then he hasn’t been healthy — there’s been plenty of reason to be worried about it before now.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on May 19, 2010 2:43 PM CDT up reply actions
i'm an idiot
nevermind me
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on May 19, 2010 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions
We never do...
HA HA HA HA HA HA!
I did such a burn on you!
Ha ha!
You suck now in the eyes of your peers!!!
The 40 trumps all!
Mention my name at checkout to get 20% off at www.InflatableSexClowns.com!!!
by thedirkatron on May 19, 2010 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions
why would anyone want BJ Upton
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
I'm not worried about 1B
Smoak will be fine.
by Adam J. Morris on May 19, 2010 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions
well
that settles it
Didn't anybody tell you how to gracefully disappear in a room
by red shoe ranger on May 19, 2010 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions
I wasn't
until AJM put the kiss of death on it.
"No, I'm not a pessimist. At some point the world shits on everybody. Pretending it ain't shit makes you an idiot, not an optimist."-https://twitter.com/shitmydadsays
Smoak doesn't look lost at the plate
like Chris Davis did. Plus he struggled at every level when he got called up, then found a groove and never looked back.
by TheHuntforRedOctober on May 19, 2010 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, I see Smoak making some
solid contact and strong line drives on some of his outs. Those are gonna start dropping. It’s not like Davis where it looked like he had no idea where the pitch was going and he was just flailing.
"No, I'm not a pessimist. At some point the world shits on everybody. Pretending it ain't shit makes you an idiot, not an optimist."-https://twitter.com/shitmydadsays
He WILL be fine, but will it be this year or next that he can contribute.
.700 OPS from 1B does not do much to make the Rangers more competitive the second half of this season or the offseason.
Pro baseball has always been a dream, so this is pretty freakin’ cool out here. -- Tim Steggall, undrafted Rangers minor leaguer.
Sure.
Do you really think he’ll OPS 700 this year? Because, I would LOVE to make that wager.
If Brad Pitt is playing Beane who do you want playing you?
JD: Eddie Guardado.
by GhettoBear04 on May 19, 2010 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions
I think he'll be in the .700 to .750 range.
Which means the Rangers will have to compensate by being much above average in some other facet.
I would take the under on a wager using .750 as the demarcation line.
Pro baseball has always been a dream, so this is pretty freakin’ cool out here. -- Tim Steggall, undrafted Rangers minor leaguer.
no compensation is NECESSARY
if our # 1 through 6 produce the way they can and Max and Smoak have ups and downs
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on May 19, 2010 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions
I feel pretty confident
that from this point forward, and especially in the second half, the Rangers will get a lot more than a .700 OPS from Smoak. His overall line by the end of the season might not be much higher than a .750 OPS, but that’s just going to be because of his bad start so far (most likely due to poor luck). And if that’s the case, then making a trade now to compensate for that wouldn’t be as necessary.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
Minor league splits don't translate at all to the big leagues.
That’s the brain trust of Josey and Big Fucking Dumb-Dumb McStupid-Fart can tell you that Nelson Cruz can’t hit lefties.
The 40 trumps all!
Mention my name at checkout to get 20% off at www.InflatableSexClowns.com!!!
by thedirkatron on May 19, 2010 5:06 PM CDT up reply actions
i'm actually
very encouraged by this article. the kid is tackling this head on, and not hiding from it. he’s not feeling sorry for himself. I’ve met JS and spent about 30 minutes talking to him. He’s a strong character. I think he bounces back from this in big way. just look how it hasn’t affected his hitting. I think you pour him righ back in. Even if lets in, say, 5 runs with bad throws. His offense over Treanor’s (or AJP) still makes that more favorable.
When he shows he’s ready, you get him back up.
Jack Daddy
The fact that it hasn't hurt his hitting while he's down there
and that no one has said it’s affecting his catching is definitely a good sign for his overall psyche.
Ceterum censeo, Ron Washington esse delendam
Except when one facet is fixed, that only leads to problems with another facet
I wouldn’t be surprised to see if when he starts throwing well, his hitting starts to suffer.
Also, the Rangers should send Harden to this person as well.
Pro baseball has always been a dream, so this is pretty freakin’ cool out here. -- Tim Steggall, undrafted Rangers minor leaguer.
but not Teagarden?
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on May 19, 2010 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions
Well...
Let’s say the Rangers are two games up in the A.L. West in mid-July, and Salty’s been throwing well for four to six weeks…do you really want to take him and thrust him into the middle of a pennant race at that point, and hope that the pressure doesn’t cause a recurrence of the problem?
If Treanor is still the starting catcher, hell yes. Of course this assumes the Rangers haven’t dealt for another catcher and are still hating on MaxRam.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Sure you bring him up
No one knows how the yips work or what causes them. You can’t assume pressure of a pennant race will make them reoccur. Maybe when they’re fixed they’re fixed. If they happen again you can always send him back down.
"You promised me, Eckstein, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I noticed that during the most trying periods of my life, there have only been one set of prints in the sand. Why, when I have needed you most, have you not been there for me?" David Eckstein replied, "Because my little legs had gotten tired, and you were carrying me." And I looked down and saw that I was still carrying David Eckstein.
Then he grounded out weakly to second.
Opportunity cost
but bringing him up and thinking he’s fixed may mean you don’t make a trade when one is available. Then you have to send Salty back down and you’re stuck.
Ceterum censeo, Ron Washington esse delendam
I think if JD has a good deal on the table
that he will take it. I think the team is past the point of relying on Salty to be the full time starter. Everyone would be happy if Salty forced the team to give him the job, but that’s the only way that he’s going to be the starter without the Rangers looking into other options. And of course, it could still end up being that Salty is one of the only options available.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
it's not really encouraging that
he had a terrible game on Tuesday after there was some hope after Monday
Well, it'd be foolish
to expect his progress to be a smooth, upward line.
Ceterum censeo, Ron Washington esse delendam
Max raises his hand
because there doesn’t appear to be anyone in the organization right now who you want as the regular catcher on a 2010 playoff contender.
“umm…Can you at least let me have a shot at the fulltime job?”
Thank you Houston for drafting Jason Castro.
Disregard what you actually see in The Show...
Listen to the scouts!!!
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2010 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions
Yep.
Josey Wales suggests that we fire all the organization’s scouts.
"Don’t want to spend my night waiting in line unless it’s for more beer."
--EssBee, on LoneStarBall, Jan. 21, 2010
We should just sign Kenny Lofton to play center again
since obviously, he was too valuable to give up for Max, and Max is playing so well, so Lofton has to be really good right?
Do you really think...
…you have seen enough of Max to know that he is a major league caliber defensive catcher?
by Adam J. Morris on May 19, 2010 12:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Nope.
I wanna see more because I haven’t seen evidence of him hurting the team, have you? Specifics, please.
It’s the perfect time to find out if he can play or not and when given the chance, he’s contributed with his bat.
Our scouts have done well in some areas but when it comes to judging catchers, they’ve looked like monkeys trying to fuck a football.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2010 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions
His first few starts
on low pitches he was jabbing at the ball. He would come down on low pitches allowing his glove to hit the ground and probably robbing the pitcher of strikes. He is getting better but still has A LOT of work to do.
"JD gets complete blame or credit for what happens in 2010 and I think Nolan wants it that way. JD is paid to be a real GM and needs to start performing like one." - Josey Wales
by Michael Cave on May 19, 2010 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Cave...Not saying your wrong but Max has also stolen
critical K’s for both CJ (in Seattle) & Nipples (v LAAA) by framing pitches that were out of the strike-zone (confirmed by Fox Trax).
It’s kinda like making sausage…might not have been pretty along the way but what were the results? Mostly good so far. You haven’t seen anybody steal 10 bases in 5 innings off him and several starters have gone to the 7th inning having allowed only 1 run with him behind the plate.
Is he THE reason the pitchers have done so well? I don’t think so but he hasn’t hurt us.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2010 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions
See
you are embarking upon an interesting debate. How much effect does a catcher have on the pitcher and his performance?
I think he has improved defensively. Was the Nippert pitch the high one from the other night? If so, that was a bad call by the ump not ramirez framing the ball. He caught the ball and then brought it down as opposed to going through the ball in one motion. He does do a better job on pitches on the corners than low in the zone.
I do believe we need a few more starts to see how much he has improved. I agree that he needs to be the main catcher but I dont know how well he will hold up. With the current state of the catching situation if he can post even a .750+ OPS then any defensive shortcomings he has are worth the increased production. The catcher position has posted a .562 OPS so far. That would be almost a .200 pt improvement.
"JD gets complete blame or credit for what happens in 2010 and I think Nolan wants it that way. JD is paid to be a real GM and needs to start performing like one." - Josey Wales
by Michael Cave on May 19, 2010 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions
MC~ It was an interesting debate...
Then Josey got a hold of it and it is now a pained conversation that leads to frustration, insults, and stubborness. No one changes their mind and honestly, the only thing that may come out of it is another catch phrase for people to use.
I hate when a subject gets that way. See Chris Davis, JD, and Mike Lowell.
"I don't really like pitchers." - Nelson Cruz
True
that is why i didnt really delve into it much. I wonder if/when there will ever be a good metric to measure the effectiveness of a catcher in handling pitchers.
"JD gets complete blame or credit for what happens in 2010 and I think Nolan wants it that way. JD is paid to be a real GM and needs to start performing like one." - Josey Wales
by Michael Cave on May 19, 2010 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions
I think the discussion per Max has been pretty good....insults? When?
This is the best time to find out what Max can do and the only person getting their playing time blocked is a 34 year old career spare.
What if Max is Piazza-Lite? Somebody who can hit 25 bombs with a .380+ OBP and defense that’s not as bad as advertised.
It’s worth finding out when the only alternative is Matt Treanor.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
I think
playing Ramirez more is warranted seeing how poorly Treanor is hitting.
"JD gets complete blame or credit for what happens in 2010 and I think Nolan wants it that way. JD is paid to be a real GM and needs to start performing like one." - Josey Wales
by Michael Cave on May 19, 2010 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions
So you're proposing we see more of him, then, to make that determination?
Because I’m on board with that, right now.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
Between Davis, Smoak
and Max we have decisions to make on which two we are going to keep.
Matt Treanor is a career spare and doesn’t need to catch more than 45 games for a team that’s truly serious about winning.
I’m not saying Max is a slam-dunk but he’s earned the opportunity.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2010 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions
You're stance has been pretty clear on him
I haven’t seen AJM really clarify where he sees the issue, beyond that if the Rangers and the Red Sox both seem to poopoo his defense, it’s probably worth poopooing.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
No
I’m saying that you, me, Josey, et al have not seen enough of him “in The Show” for us to be able to say whether he is a major league caliber defender behind the plate.
I’m also saying that The Powers That Be in Rangerland, who have been watching him catch since 2007, have serious doubts about his abilities behind the plate, and catcher defense is something that I think we, as fans, have very little available to us to work off of in judging.
by Adam J. Morris on May 19, 2010 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions
Would you also agree, Sheriff Morris, that
the Ranger Powers That Be haven’t done a very good job the last 4 years in evaluating their catching situation on several levels?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2010 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm confused
Is it your position that, because Salty and Teagarden haven’t worked out, we shouldn’t trust the team’s evaluation of Max’s defense?
by Adam J. Morris on May 19, 2010 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions
Is it the position of your rapes that Max's defense is so bad that his bat-y goodness isn't enough to make up for it and that he's actually a worse overall option than Matt fucking Trainer?
I’m gonna rage-murder someone really fucking soon.
The 40 trumps all!
Mention my name at checkout to get 20% off at www.InflatableSexClowns.com!!!
by thedirkatron on May 19, 2010 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Okay
Let me ask this.
What do you think is a reasonable line to expect from Max the rest of the season, if he got the majority of the starts at catcher?
by Adam J. Morris on May 19, 2010 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions
.270/.350/.400, or roundabout there.
And why are you talking to me again?
I thought I was dead to you?
I don’t understand anything about the world I live in.
I’m gonna go build a house for a fucking orphan and make him live inside of it.
The 40 trumps all!
Mention my name at checkout to get 20% off at www.InflatableSexClowns.com!!!
by thedirkatron on May 19, 2010 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Okay
The difference, offensively, between that and a 600 OPS catcher, over the course of 120 games (about what a starting catcher starts in a season), is about 25-30 runs.
Do you believe that it is possible that Max is 25-30 runs worse, defensively, factoring in every element of a catcher’s defensive game, than, say, Matt Treanor?
by Adam J. Morris on May 19, 2010 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions
Need to see more from both but if you have a gun to my
head I’d say no, Max is not 25-30 games worse defensively than Treanor.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
Of course it's possible.
But I’ve had consensual sex with an actual female lady, so obviously any fucking butt shit is possible.
I take it that’s what your (now clearly insane) rapes think, though?
Cause my rapes don’t think that at fucking all, man.
Nuh-uh.
No way, man.
The 40 trumps all!
Mention my name at checkout to get 20% off at www.InflatableSexClowns.com!!!
by thedirkatron on May 19, 2010 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Max hasn't shown that he's 25-30 runs worse defensively yet
I’d say he at least deserves a chance, while we’re still pining for a better option IF there is one
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on May 19, 2010 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions
And what we need to remember is that
Matt Treanor is nothing special.
25-30 runs worse? I don’t see it.
Treanor’s a veteran spare back-up who shouldn’t play more than 45 games / year and should not be confused with Jim Sundberg in his prime.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
Super duper SSS alert
But FG has Treanor at -1 and Max even on DRS
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
I should have added a postscript
That I have no idea how DRS applies to catchers.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
Tonight's Line-Up ready to go on Star-Telegram...
Same line-up as last night.
4 out of 5 last starts to Treanor.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
This is
the same Matt Treanor who is rocking a 5 for 34 and not only made an error last night but also couldn’t get a bunt down.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
Is someone arguing that Matt Treanor should be starting over Maxie-poo?
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
by Cecilio's Guante on May 19, 2010 5:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Hard to say without knowing how many plate appearances
he’s going to receive but I would guess he’d have a .350+ OBP with an OPS above .800.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2010 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions
That's one hell of a line to predict
And would make him one of the top offensive catchers in baseball. An .800 OPS right now is 3rd best out of all qualified MLB catchers, a couple of points ahead of Doumit. That seems…optimistic
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
Max Ramirez
in what could be best described as spotty opportunities…thru 83 plate appearances in The Show has a .373 OBP / .829 OPS.
Seems very realistic to me and I am notoriously conservative with young players.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
Teagarden thru his first 81 plate appearances
.346 OBP and .929 OPS
It’s too early to be making those types of proclamations about Max, especially considering he’s never hit above AA for an extended period of time.
I think Max should get more playing time, but your prediction is optimistic for sure.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on May 19, 2010 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions
Teagarden's minor league stats
pale in comparison to Mac Max.
TT was great in September 2008 for 50 plate appearances or so and was never the same.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
You just glide right over the point
83 PA’s is SSS and it’s not a reason to make that optimistic of a prediction.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on May 19, 2010 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions
Given Max's record in the minor league's
plus what he’s done in The Show to date, yeah, there’s a lot of reasons to be optimistic.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
wierd to me that some of the same people that are defining Max as a DH/1b type
don’t think he can post an .800 OPS.
Hey Tom - It's over now, so do you know how - to pick up the pieces and go home?
I'm not sure he can do it
this year, and maybe not as a fulltime catcher. If he’s a full time DH/1B he can focus much more on hitting.
Ceterum censeo, Ron Washington esse delendam
Better than Treanor or Tea
His updated Zips were about 250/332/387. Even those are far better than Treanor and Tea and his actual production indicate they were low.
"You promised me, Eckstein, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I noticed that during the most trying periods of my life, there have only been one set of prints in the sand. Why, when I have needed you most, have you not been there for me?" David Eckstein replied, "Because my little legs had gotten tired, and you were carrying me." And I looked down and saw that I was still carrying David Eckstein.
Then he grounded out weakly to second.
I'd say it's reasonable to
second-guess how this team evaluates their catchers on just about every level.
I was ready for a complete butcher behind the plate when Max was in the game and I have yet to see it.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
by Josey Wales on May 19, 2010 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions
Isnt it
believed by John Sickels and a few other respected prospect evaluators that catchers tend to develop at a much slower pace than other positions? Especially HS catchers.
"JD gets complete blame or credit for what happens in 2010 and I think Nolan wants it that way. JD is paid to be a real GM and needs to start performing like one." - Josey Wales
by Michael Cave on May 19, 2010 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions
Catcher are second only to pitchers
in their attrition rate and unpredictability of development. It’s not a knock on TX that Salty and Tea haven’t worked out (yet), that Salty developed the yips (so that’s the fault of the Rangers?) or that Max was injured last year.
Ceterum censeo, Ron Washington esse delendam
Do you second guess the Red Sox?
Or just about everyone who evaluates prospects for their jobs?
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
The person making the ultimate decision on playing time with Max
is Ron Washington.
Yes, he has internal input but he’s seen quite a bit of Max the last 3 Spring Trainings plus what we’ve seen in The Show.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
catcher defense
What we really don’t know is his game calling/pitcher handling skills. We can watch the game and observe his blocking/recieveing/throw skills, comapre them to other catchers and make our own judgements. Scouts go further and look at his technique in those areas as well.
Overall, given the state of the Rangers catcher situation, Max should be given the opportunty to win the job. Give him a month of FT catcher duties and see where he stand come mid-June.
Thank you Houston for drafting Jason Castro.
Yes, he really does.
Remember, Josey has one basic stance in every single debate: Complete and total certainty.
Ceterum censeo, Ron Washington esse delendam
Can we turn Chris Davis into a catcher?
He seems to already be really good at digging the ball out of the dirt, and a first baseman’s mitt is like a catcher’s mitt…
I believe
Brett Perriman is a strong proponent of the idea.
"No, I'm not a pessimist. At some point the world shits on everybody. Pretending it ain't shit makes you an idiot, not an optimist."-https://twitter.com/shitmydadsays
If Davis keeps hitting like he did the last time he was up in the Bigs
then it’s a moot point.
"Drinks are on me if Lewis posts >168IP and an era lower than 3.86." by RangerMad on Jan 20, 2010 12:36 PM PST
not necessarily
he’d fit right in
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on May 19, 2010 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions
It would have been and it would have also
been nice to have the ownership situation settled. IIRC he wanted 2 years and wanted money the Rangers didnt have to spend.
"JD gets complete blame or credit for what happens in 2010 and I think Nolan wants it that way. JD is paid to be a real GM and needs to start performing like one." - Josey Wales
by Michael Cave on May 19, 2010 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions
Supposedly...
…even if ownership had been settled, they weren’t going to go two years, and weren’t going to make him the starter.
by Adam J. Morris on May 19, 2010 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah
two years would have been one year too much. I believe the Rangers evaluated him correctly. He is a luxury that teams with more money can afford for a year but the Rangers arent one of those teams. Would have been nice a backup at a one year deal but Pudge didnt want that and the Rangers didnt want to agree to his terms.
"JD gets complete blame or credit for what happens in 2010 and I think Nolan wants it that way. JD is paid to be a real GM and needs to start performing like one." - Josey Wales
by Michael Cave on May 19, 2010 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions
he'd have become starter soon enough
but I get the point; he wanted that opportunity right off the bat
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on May 19, 2010 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions
Pudge
.229/.224/.333 line so far in May.
And 38 year old catchers generally don’t hold up for 100 games.
I don’t know that he’s that much better than Matt Treanor, as far as options over a full season go.
by Adam J. Morris on May 19, 2010 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions
Is that OBP right?
That he has a lower OBP than BA?
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
It's correct, 1 sac fly
is what is making it look funny. Otherwise BA and OBP are exactly the same for him in May…
Pudge just really hates getting on base then
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
Harvey "the Dorf" Dorfman?
Sammy, you’re not going to sing for us, are you?
Greetings from the Humungus, the Ruler of the Wasteland, the Ayatollah of Rock and Roll-A. I laugh at your puny plans.
Fletch reference
very nice…
Saw my pimp today…
Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.
ElectricOkra.com
love Fletch
but I was thinking of Kent “Flounder” Dorfman
Animal House?
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on May 19, 2010 2:49 PM CDT up reply actions
And hat's off to his wife Marge
those 4-to-6 weeks at Trembling Hills … no more alcohol or sedatives in her life!
Anyone else watch
Lunch with the Rangers on FSSW?
"The 2010 Rangers...winning despite Ron Washington"
In the interest of quicker games Ron should just tell the ump he's pulling the Feliz card and the ump should rule the inning over.--Sherman McCoy on Sept. 4, 2009
In his defense, you are a retarded cuntbag by LiamP on Mar 4, 2010
Who is taking the 40th roster spot?
Did I miss something?
ME
I just got the call… see you in the funny papers!
Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.
ElectricOkra.com
Still better than Arias
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
I got mad skillz, yo
Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.
ElectricOkra.com
OT: Gary Matthews Jr. might be released by the Mets.
Per MLB Daily Dish, h/t to @lonestarball.
But remember: Randy Galloway told us that the Rangers were stupid for letting GMJ walk.
"Don’t want to spend my night waiting in line unless it’s for more beer."
--EssBee, on LoneStarBall, Jan. 21, 2010
OMG, he has been bad...did not realize horrific
.213 wOBA, 28 wRC
Wow.
"I support you, Wash; I’ve always supported you," Young said
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
Thank you Angels for spending lots and lots of money on that guy.
Science flies you to the moon. Religion flies you into buildings.
And not spending money on Vlad!!
"JD gets complete blame or credit for what happens in 2010 and I think Nolan wants it that way. JD is paid to be a real GM and needs to start performing like one." - Josey Wales
by Michael Cave on May 19, 2010 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions
Would it really be such a bad thing if Salty stayed in AAA the rest of the season?
Seems like it might be the best thing for him at this point. He can work on his game without the pressure of a division race.
If we can solidfy our catching in another way..
Then I agree completely – that would most likely be the best thing for him.
The Texas Rangers have been synonymous with explosive firepower ever since they emptied 130 rounds into Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. - Alyssa Milano
Perhaps Buster Molina is out of work?
The long lost Molina?
"Don’t want to spend my night waiting in line unless it’s for more beer."
--EssBee, on LoneStarBall, Jan. 21, 2010
how many other contending teams might be looking for catching help midseason?
Hopefully it won’t be a sellers market.
Hey Tom - It's over now, so do you know how - to pick up the pieces and go home?
no...but you guys aren't supposed to know about the ones I've seen
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on May 19, 2010 2:50 PM CDT up reply actions
What!?!?!?!??????
Hook a brother up with some full frontal goodness, man.
The 40 trumps all!
Mention my name at checkout to get 20% off at www.InflatableSexClowns.com!!!
by thedirkatron on May 19, 2010 5:07 PM CDT up reply actions
I've been told if I ever do, I'll surely die a painless death
which isn’t fun; but I’ll do you one better – this is what I found on my kitchen counter last night:
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on May 19, 2010 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions
Did you do rapes on them?
Cause otherwise it’s not better.
Send me the hot rape sex pics.
I’m very discrete.
I won a shed and everything.
The 40 trumps all!
Mention my name at checkout to get 20% off at www.InflatableSexClowns.com!!!
by thedirkatron on May 19, 2010 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions
Anyone catch this note in Klaw chat?
http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/32453/mlb-insider-keith-law
Josh (Lincoln, NE)
At what point does Brian Sabean get fired? He gave the crazy contracts to Zito and Rowand, traded FOR Sidney Ponson, traded Liriano, Nathan, and Bonser for a year’s worth of AJ Pierzynski, and publicly bashes his organization’s best prospect for no reason.
Klaw (1:10 PM)
You know what he should do? Trade Posey. They obviously don’t want him, and they don’t think they need him. Imagine the prospect bidding war that Boston and Tampa Bay would get into right now if Posey was available.
Go Strangers.
I would hope we would jump into that, too
It would hurt, in terms of prospects, but I’d take that hurt.
And, I know, I know, TINSTAACP
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
hahaha
did the blank post mean “he’s going to get fired at 1:10 PM”?
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on May 19, 2010 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions
miserable.
my computer played a trick on me…but it made me laugh
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on May 19, 2010 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions
And a little further down...
Same link.
Ehhhhhhh…
Kyle (Dallas)
So in your opinion will Jarrod Saltalamacchia recover from the “yips”, and has Max Ramirez finally broke through the barrier that has held him back?
Klaw (2:18 PM)
Someone tell me the last catcher to get the yips and recover.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on May 19, 2010 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions
That's kind of
what I thought. My impression was that the yips are pretty much fatal to careers that rely on throwing. Most of the cases I’ve ever recalled ended up badly.
"No, I'm not a pessimist. At some point the world shits on everybody. Pretending it ain't shit makes you an idiot, not an optimist."-https://twitter.com/shitmydadsays
Think the Rays are kicking themselves for saving
a couple mil by not taking Posey? What a bad pick.
"I was going to say, 'You’re gay for Elvis.' But then I realized that I, too, am gay for Elvis." ~Adam J. Morris.
by Kinslerhomer on May 19, 2010 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions
Tim Beckham
Who has been really meh in Low-A
"I was going to say, 'You’re gay for Elvis.' But then I realized that I, too, am gay for Elvis." ~Adam J. Morris.
by Kinslerhomer on May 19, 2010 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions
I thought they legitimately liked B-Beckham better?
The 40 trumps all!
Mention my name at checkout to get 20% off at www.InflatableSexClowns.com!!!
by thedirkatron on May 19, 2010 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions
yeah, I was thinking about that the other day
The Rays with Posey at catcher this year would be amazing.
Hey Tom - It's over now, so do you know how - to pick up the pieces and go home?
Chris Davis
for AJ Pierzynski?
"You make the most of the hand you're dealt because a quitter... never... wins!!!"
That profile pic makes me feel like I've had rapes done on me.
I don’t like it.
Stop.
The 40 trumps all!
Mention my name at checkout to get 20% off at www.InflatableSexClowns.com!!!
by thedirkatron on May 19, 2010 5:09 PM CDT up reply actions
Please HELP
Somewhere back in MLB history, I remember some CATCHER who had this throwing problem also. He saw a therapist and he never made it to the show. I remember visual images of his errant throws. But I cannot remember a team or name? Anyone know such a player?
"I wish to believe. But my belief is a graveyard." - Charles Bukowski
Mike Ivie, Dale Murphy, Mackey Sasser.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Ranger players, especially veterans, weren’t surprised that Daniels couldn’t find a deal"
"The Influence continues." Josey Wales (1/18/10)
Mackey Sasser!
That’s it! Thanks.
"I wish to believe. But my belief is a graveyard." - Charles Bukowski
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